Members of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale Civic Association have concerns about the area's traffic congestion — and they'll soon take those concerns to City Hall. Stanley Eichelbaum, the group's president, recently made a presentation designed to bring attention to concerns over pedestrian safety in the area on Las Olas Boulevard from Andrews Avenue to Federal Highway. "Anybody who walks [along] Las Olas," Eichelbaum said, "knows the problem. " Eichelbaum and other members maintain the problem is in the sheer density of residency downtown, coupled with the number of tourists and other pedestrian traffic.

If you're planning to go to the beach Sunday morning, make sure to give yourself some extra time. The Ninth Annual A1A Marathon will be taking place from 5:45 a.m. until noon. Both lanes of northbound State Road A1A will be dedicated to runners, so the southbound lanes will be split to accommodate northbound drivers. Seabreeze Boulevard will be closed at Las Olas Boulevard from 6 to 7 a.m., and A1A just north of Sunrise Boulevard will be shut down from 7 to 9:30 a.m. The race starts on Southwest Second Street near the Museum of Science and Discovery.

Just east of the Northern Trust Bank at the Himmarshee Canal bridge, Las Olas Boulevard's village feel ends abruptly as drivers heading east step on the gas, turning part of the commercial district into a drive-by zone for motorists and a danger zone for pedestrians. Commissioners are in favor of reconfiguring a stretch of Las Olas east of the bridge, from Southeast 12th to 15th avenues, where the road widens to four lanes. They hope the change will slow traffic, make it safer for pedestrians and extend the village atmosphere that attracts people to the boulevard farther west.

Finding fun after dark on Las Olas Boulevard once bordered on impossible. The sleepy stretch of street favored quaint shopping and early dinners, not happy hours and bar crowds. An infusion of young professionals and trendy businesses is fueling the transformation of the mile-long strip that's on the brink of becoming South Florida's hottest, hippest destination north of Miami Beach. Boozy bikes that seat 15 people. Celebrity sightings. Shops that stay open late. Las Olas grows its party atmosphere with each new store, pub or restaurant - several of which are on tap to open or expand in 2014.

If your plans include a late-night trip to Fort Lauderdale beach, you'll need to find another route Tuesday night. All lanes on the Las Olas Boulevard bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway will close from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday so crews can pour the concrete deck on the southeast side of the span. In case of bad weather, the work will be done Wednesday night. All eastbound traffic will be detoured to Sunrise Boulevard via U.S.1 and all westbound traffic will be detoured to Sunrise Boulevard via State Road A1A. Michael Turnbell

Anyone at the beach Friday afternoon might get a special treat from Santa. Starting at 12 p.m., Santa's motorcade will head from city offices on Broward Boulvard to Southwest Seventh Street, Southwest Second Street, Andrews Avenue, Las Olas Boulevard and State Road A1A, stopping at the south beach parking lot. Santa will then walk along Fort Lauderdale beach, passing out candy canes. He'll start near Oasis Café and walk north to Sunrise Boulevard. For information, call 954-828-5363.